Stanley Spencer Gallery

“Revealing Genius, Conserving Art” is now open.: 11.00 - 16.30 (last entry 16.00)

On 30th June 1891 Sir Stanley Spencer CBE RA was born. So let’s celebrate an extraordinary artist with church bells ringing, ducks flying and his beloved Thames moving. Happy Birthday Stanley! 🤎 🔈Sound On🔈

Today we open our summer exhibition “That Marvellous Atmosphere”…a detailed look at Spencer’s last masterpiece! Summer hours: daily 10.30-16.30. Last entry 16.00.

As the end of the year approaches, we just want to say a big thank you to our visitors, followers, supporters, Friends, suppliers and especially our fantastic volunteers without whom our gallery couldn’t and wouldn’t function👏…( sound on) 🎄🎄

“Unveiling Cookham War Memorial”, 1922. Despite its frivolity, Stanley does not show bereaved relatives or military personnel who would be integral to the official ceremony. In his words, “to express the peaceful life that I visualised people could live if there were no war”.

Stanley remembers… His brother Sydney died at Epehy on 24th September 1918 and was awarded the Military Cross. He, along with all others who fell from Cookham, is commemorated on the village memorial cross #LestWeForget

“Seeing the Unseen, Reality and Imagination in the Art of Stanley Spencer” has opened. Our lead painting of Sarah Tubb demonstrates the layering of his works- mixture of acutely observed reality with memory, fantasy and spirituality. The photo shows reality…just extraordinary!

As we prepare for “Seeing the Unseen”, it’s a goodbye to the fantastic “A Cotswold Farm” by Gilbert Spencer @Tate and hello to Marjorie Metz, Patricia Preece, the Angel and Sarah Tubb. More on Thursday when we open @stanleyspencergallery

One week to go before our winter exhibition “Seeing the Unseen, Reality and Imagination in the Art of Stanley Spencer” opens! As Stanley comments”everything has a sort of double meaning for me” Please note our different, winter opening hours @stanleyspencergallery

Where are these girls going to in Odney Lane, Cookham? In Stanley’s imagination they are going to the baptism of Christ in the river at Odney. He and Gilbert often bathed there in the early morning. Could the boys painting be them? Both on display in “The Cookham Brotherhood”

Dr Amy Lim will be giving a talk in the gallery about Gilbert Spencer on Saturday 21st September, 6-7pm as part of @forarthistory festival. Our current exhibition “The Cookham Brotherhood” will complement the talk. Free but must be booked via eventbrite.co.uk/e/after-hours-…

@JonPountney1 @lewis_herbert He painted over 450 paintings in his lifetime (not including the wondrous Sandham Memorial Chapel in Burghclere)…so quite fast!

@lewis_herbert @SpencerCookham Makes you wonder how fast he painted!

Landscape in North Wales, 1938 Stanley Spencer (1891–1959) Twitter culture corner

As this year’s Cookham Arts Club exhibition continues, this photo shows Stanley giving his opinion on a 1950’s exhibition at Pinder Hall where it is still held today. On Stanley’s left, is Reca McGibbon who sculpted the bust of Stanley which is always on display in the gallery.

Join us for the Stanley Spencer Summer Stroll on Wednesday 4th September. Start at the Gallery at 10am and take in Cockmarsh, Winter Hill and the river. Lots of info about Stanley Spencer’s local work. Cost £10 plus Eventbrite booking fee. Book at eventbrite.co.uk/e/stanley-spen…

On your hols yet? Stanley painting “The Harbour” in St Ives on his honeymoon to Patricia Preece. They were married on 29th May 1937.

On 30 June 1891 Stanley was born. In his diary his brother Will writes “ on the morning of my arrival a rook came down the chimney and flew out into the dining room”. An extraordinary start…so let’s celebrate with church bells and flying ducks. Happy Birthday Stanley! Sound on!

@GertieSash @Tate @ChilternsNL Thank you…and hope see you soon…

Here’s a short trailer about our summer exhibition “The Cookham Brotherhood”. As one visitor said” I can’t believe the detail in Gilbert’s ’A Cotswold Farm’” @Tate. A longer version is on our shiny new website under What’s On…see you soon!

@ioloedger @GlynnVivian We think he’s very special too. Thank you for your kind words.

@SpencerCookham Stanley will always be one the of most fabulous British painters for me. I still remember seeing his painting in the @GlynnVivian gallery as a kid (as well as Josef Herman &Alfred Janes). Apple Gathers in T’Britain is one of my faves. Love your account.

At the Stanley Spencer Gallery we “listen” to our paintings as well as look. ‘Neighbours’ shows the childhood garden shared by Stanley and his brother Gilbert - the stars of ”The Cookham Brotherhood”. Like Stanley - enjoy Bach and like Gilbert - enjoy football! Sound on!

Press the painting to get the full video!